In the end, Simone and her collaborators have devised a story that closed one chapter and opened another, all amid a maddening cacophony that ends up more pleasurable and harmonious than could have been predicted. All the more reason to celebrate the writers continued presence on a title shes clearly put her heart and soul into developing into this great song of triumph and terror. Things may look dire upon the last page of this issue (Maybe I should have mentioned Saw earlier, as well.), but I have more reason than ever to come back to this book and its gut-wrenching delights month after month. Read Full Review

Next month will be Gail's last issue before she takes a one month break from the title. In the meantime, Death of the Family is taking the comic book genre to new heights, laying the ground work for a revitalized Bat-family. Barbara Gordon has become a much more mature character within the New 52 thanks to Gail, and only good things can come of the unknown result of the Joker's return. Read Full Review

As an added bonus, we see a bit of the old Oracle in The New 52 in this issue, as Barbara recalls her life after her paralysis (but prior to her recovery). Drea (@ArkhamAsylumDoc), who is a Doctor of Psychology and who has been described as invaluable in shaping Gail Simone's depiction of a woman recovering from trauma is canonized as Batgirl's therapist here, attempting to persuade a very stubborn young Barbara Gordon to work through the radical adjustments she's had to make in her life. While many are thrilled and forever grateful for Batgirl's return in The New 52, there is a twinge of nostalgia that will course through every reader's heart seeing Barbara in her wheelchair, representing those who are differently-abled and nonetheless kick-ass. Read Full Review

I don't know what Scott Snyder has planned to wrap up "Death of the Family," but whatever it is; I would be vastly impressed if it tops the drama and intensity of Simone's Batgirl. Read Full Review

Batgirl #16 has everything in it to make this entire team the obvious choice for this series. The script, even with a minor pacing issue, is very dark, creepy and emotional, while the art is bold and beautiful. Batgirl has been described as a Batman spin-off, but with Simone at the helm this series stands on its own two feet. Read Full Review

This is the last issue of Simone on Batgirl before she takes a break for a few issues. I'm not sure how the guest writer is going to be, but I will certainly be counting down her return. This title needs her. As for this issue, I'll have to give it an 8.5/10. My rating would've been higher if just a little more time had been spent on Babs' Oracle days and had Benes pencilled the issue entirely, but the other guys did a great job. Great issue, all around! Read Full Review

Art duties are split between Ed Benes and Daniel Sampere, who handle their respective pages well. The transition is noticeable, if only slightly, through the sudden appearance of Sampere's less rigid figures, thanks in part to the looser inks of Vicente Cifuentes. Each artist has some great pages to render that play to their individual strengths. Benes handles the majority of the creepy Joker moments as he monologues to Batgirl, while Sampere jumps in for the latter half of the book that is mostly an extended fight sequence. Samepere's energetic, if emotionally stunted, work is the better fit here, while Benes' penchant for detail and atmosphere makes the best of Simone's terrifying Joker. Read Full Review

If you've been following Death of the Family or Batgirl or both this is a must have. It's really a pretty good read no matter what, but you'll bit left out on the punchline if you haven't been keeping up. Read Full Review

In short, this is a strong issue of a good title, and everyone who lamented and/or cheered at the annoucement of Gail's firing and re-hiring on this book should definitely pick up a copy to show DC just what kind of quality they've got on their hands. Batgirl #16 works as drama, as part of a crossover, as a single-issue, and features the amazing sight of hand-to-hand combat with a chainsaw involved, earning 4 out of 5 stars overall. If I could somehow guarantee that the rest of the crossover is of this quality, I'd even be interested in perusing the mainstream Batman titles... Read Full Review

Batgirl is fitting in very nicely in the Death of the Family arc. You wouldn't know it to read this comic book, but this actually isn't even the main storyline in the crossover, but Simone sure makes it feel that way. I am enjoying this arc and can't wait to see what Simone has in store for the ending. Read Full Review

I'm glad that Gail is still writing Batgirl, as it has been one of the best comics DC has on the shelves. Though I can't wait until this latest Bat Event runs its course and we can get back to Gail's own story lines. Read Full Review

Aside from Benes' art, I think this is by far one of the best issues of BATGIRL in all of Gail Simone's run. From the somber reflection we get in the beginning of the issue, to the action packed sequences that follow, to an ending that will leave you at the edge of your seat; Simone knocks it completely out of the park. If you had been disappointed by this series in the past, this issue redeems it by delivering the story I think most Barbara Gordon fans have been waiting to see. Overall, this is definitely a well written, accessible read that is highly recommended. Read Full Review

The I enjoyed these Batgirl issues, and #16 is no different. In terms of tie ins, the issue doesn't do anything extraordinary, but the character beats are where the meat is. Though I don't agree with how James Jr. is being used and portrayed, it's not enough to truly ruin my enjoyment of the issues. Thankfully, this isn't Gail Simone's final issue on the series, and she'll probably be given the chance to explain that new dynamic in full. Read Full Review

This was a terrific issue,and although not as good as the other issues in the Batgirl part of Death of the Family, it was still very good. Although it was really good I'd only recommend it to people who already have the rest of the Batgirl part of Death of the Family, as it's not a brilliant jumping on point. I would however recommend it to anyone considering getting the other issues, as it has been a brilliant story. Read Full Review

Batgirl #16 is worth it for Gail Simone's finish, but the art definitely hurts the experience. Read Full Review

Gail Simone continues to do the most with the Joker's return outside of Scott Snyder's Batman series. Though the dialogue is not as strong as it was in previous entries Batgirl #16 is still a good supplement to "The Death of the Family." Simone has been able to grow Batgirl's character as she becomes more confident in her skills but still makes mistakes that show prone to mistakes that cost her in the end. If you're enjoying "The Death of the Family" and have a couple extra bucks to spare than give Batgirl a try. Read Full Review

It's not a terrible comic and even with it having a fill-in artist halfway through I though that the artwork was an improvement over issue #15. It's just that it had so much squandered potential. A Batgirl and Joker wedding is such a twisted and fun idea and it was all tossed out the window so another cha Read Full Review

Ed Benes’ art is a very odd duck. In the smaller panels, the pencils are a little too basic to keep up with the pace of the book. However, the larger panels and the splash pages really pop. The back and forth begins to take you out of the story, which is never a good sign. I also don’t care much for Benes' rendition of the Joker. It lacks the menace and deformity of Greg Capullo’s original concept. Read Full Review

Gail Simone needs to go. Right now. Before she ruins this book forever. We get another poorly scripted issue with good art from the team of Simone and Ed Benes, featuring a creepy looking Joker but an uncharacteristically clich-filled and not funny one as well. This storyline could have been one issue, but instead has been drug out into a seemingly endless storyline full of no twists, no turns, no surprises, and absolutely nothing new whatsoever. And I blame that entirely on the writer and her seeming inability to relate to the title character, her main adversary, and one of my own personal favorite characters who should be easy to write, James Gordon Jr. Read Full Review

Batgirl #16 seems to have the same problem that its sister title Batman and Robin does " it already said everything it was going to say a month ago. Read Full Review